True stories and adventures of a first time mommy

Main menu

Monthly Archives: July 2013

I am so sorry I have not been writing to you as often as usual. It is summer after all, and that means busy-constantly-no spare time-harvesting-canning-eating yummy fruits… need I say more? I did want to write though this morning, or should I say afternoon? A lot to catch up on, stay with me…

Noah’s newest things:

– First bottom tooth finally popped through. I spied it a few weeks ago, and it popped through on Saturday, July 20th. It is a sharp little bugger. This is no bueno for me because I am still nursing, and his tooth appearing has made our “weaning journey” begin. I still plan to nurse as long as possible, so I still plan to nurse in the morning and night time. (Kellan was breastfed until he was about 10 months old, so this is what I aim to do for Noah as well.)

– Scooting backwards has begun. We try to work with him to crawl forwards, but I still believe he is a ways away from doing so. And that is perfectly fine with me. No rush. I have enjoyed every milestone in Noah’s life, just as I did with Kellan. It is a bitter sweet thing.

– We just started giving Noah water in a sippy cup. I think we started this later with Kellan, and it was more challenging for him. So I thought introducing it earlier would be a better solution for lil’ boy.

– Nap training. Oh my. I was so used to cuddling with Noah while he was sleeping, that I completely forgot to nap train him until 3 weeks ago. Bad idea. I highly suggest you do this as early as possible. But what we have got going on so far, is giving Noah a nap around 10am and 3pm. He is in his crib for an hour and a half. Bless him. He is doing pretty well so far.

– Still sleeps through the night. Bed time is about 7:45pm every night, and he sleeps until 7:30-8am every morning. The exact times can range, but for the most part, I can count on him in his room for about 12 hours. Amen. I need my sleep.

– 2 weeks ago we received Noah’s highchair which hooks onto our table (Kellan’s is huge & takes up a lot of space in our dining area), he eats breakfast, lunch & dinner in his new snazzy red seat and big brother loves it too!

– Gave Noah his first big-boy haircut last night (Saturday, July 27th).

Kellan’s newest things:

– Still running everywhere. He has so much energy, thanks babe (this is a Daddy trait), sometimes I can’t keep up with him. But like my Mom tells me, I gotta pull up my big girl panties and just keep on a’going! This can be challenging, but I have changed my mind and body into dealing with it better. Eating smart, changing my shoes every day (my feet ache from constantly being on them), and being active with Kellan has led me to have an increase in energy. I do require a lot of sleep though, but I believe I am doing worlds better than I did last summer.

– I give him 2 choices of clothes each day, and he picks out his own outfit. Sometimes they don’t go, but he still looks like an angel.

– Gave him his third big-boy haircut last night (Saturday, July 27th). I hate to cut off his blonde locks, but it’s just hair, it will grow back.

– Eats pretty much anything. Tries everything we give him, but does not like avocado. This is a huge bummer for me because I love avocados. He has been into fruits this summer. Naturally, I love fruit, and have passed this onto Kellan & Noah as well. Healthy, in season, and a natural way to ensure they both are getting their fiber.

– Drinks his lemonade crystal light every day, all day. I make smoothies in the morning, and he has been drinking that as well.

– Still takes his naps every day from about 12:30pmà 3pm. Kellan still sleeps through the night, same schedule as Noah. (7:45pmà 8am, although he usually hums or talks in his crib for maybe thirty minutes before going to bed, and in the morning before I go in and get him up. He is just the sweetest.)

That’s pretty much a wrap on my end. No real updates with myself, just keeping busy maintaining our beautiful home, our thriving garden, raising our lil’ boys, teaching, guiding, playing “doctor”, coaching, listening, showing, understanding… & the biggie: patience. Trying out a new thing with the boys, they need to understand the concept of being patient (I know they are only a toddler & baby), but by instilling in them this now, while they are young, I am hoping that as they get older their patience level will grow as well.

So blog, do you forgive me? I know you do. So understanding… Adios muchacho’s!

Love,

Katie June

P.S. My sister and her family have moved far away from us… these photograph’s were taken on July 4th, 2013:

Every Wednesday from about 9:45am till around 3pm my Mom graciously watches Kellan. He gets excited knowing he will see his Nana, Grandpa & Uncles. They shower him with so much love and his one-on-one time alone with them makes me smile. It puts my heart at ease for those hours. I know he is well cared for, his diaper will get changed, his tummy will get plenty of snacks & lunch, and his eyes will see how much his family loves him. Because Kellan was an only child for 19 months of his life, I miss giving him that time. Luckily, my family lives in the same town as we do and he does get spoiled. Spoiled with love. That is how I was raised. It wasn’t about presents, it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about getting a new toy every time we went to the store or even letting us kids run wild… we were kissed daily, told “I love you” constantly, and my parents helped guide and taught me lessons that I now teach my son. I feel like a wise parent. A Mom who knows what is best for my children, even if they don’t know it. A Mom who kisses my little boys from the moment they wake up in the morning until the last “I love you, have sweet dreams, we love you…” as we walk out the door when putting them down for the night. We have structure at our home. There are many rules. And yes, we have given spankings. (I am not afraid to say this. Every parent deals with discipline differently. Spankings work in this house. Time outs might work for other families.) I try to not “shelter” them in any way. I want them to learn, make mistakes, grow and understand things and obstacles just like I did growing up. But I want them to know that I will love them unconditionally. No matter what. They are my life. I give every ounce of my being to them during the day. I am a present parent. Yes I am a stay-at-home Mom, so I do “run the ship” at our home. Even Noel says, “Momma’s the boss.” Thank you hunny. Even though I might be Boss Lady, I try to weigh it out evenly with my love for all three of my boys.

Being a good parent, a good Mom is something that I wanted my entire life. I saw how my own Mother was with us, raising five children. Carly, Alex, and I all have college degrees. Lachlan is going to college, and my youngest brother Conlan will be a Junior at Wenatchee High this fall. We were taught that education is important. We were taught how to be a reliable employee. We were taught right from wrong. Although not always abiding by my parent’s rules, hey, we were all teenagers once. We learned from it. I feel like the 27 years I have been alive, I have done quite a lot. I am a recovering alcoholic, I am a wife, I am a Mother to two sweet boys, and I have enough strength in me to keep on going day after day. Some days feel like they last forever. Some days they don’t. My weeks usually even out. I might have a real struggle day, meaning patience-wise, and the next two weeks go pretty darn smooth. I know my limits, I know what my boys need 24/7, I know what their cries or whines mean, and I know what to give them at a moment’s notice. I feel a true connection to them. Every Mom might not have this with their children, but thankfully my bond with my boys just keeps on a’growin. Happiness.

Kellan Atwood is my first born. He will always be. I can’t even count how many kisses I give him every day. How many “I love you” ‘s I say throughout each day. But I can remember looking into his eyes the moment our eyes first met and realizing that yes, this is what I am. I am a Mother. I am your Mother. I will do anything and everything for you always. Noah Munro came 19 short months later. It has been extremely challenging, balancing the two of them, spreading my love to each. However now that we have hit our groove, I can say with ease this is right where I am supposed to be. Every day, at home, guiding my two little men to be the best they can possibly be. Being proud, as a parent, is the most rewarding gift I have ever received. So, I thank you Mom & Dad for teaching me everything I needed to know. As many tears, as many “we need to have a talk” conversations which usually ended up in me being grounded, as many times I had disappointed them, had them sleep with one eye open, struggled with guiding me down the right path, you both have done your job. & you have done it well. I am proud to have become a wife to an amazing man and a Mommy to my sweet angels. Parents help mold you into the person you become. My parents made me the best Katie I could ever be. Noel saved me. & my two lil’ boys keep me grounded. People ask me often, “How do you do it? What is your higher power?” …I will tell you that when I first entered treatment, I didn’t have a whole lot of faith left in me, my higher power was Noel. And still is. Only now I have two more names to add, Kellan & Noah. Every day is different, but my foundation is the same. One day at a time.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. –Serenity Prayer from Alcoholics Anonymous